What is a Human Resources Generalist?

Are you interested in learning more about the duties and responsibilities of a human resources generalist? If you are in the process of enrolling in school, or you are on your way to earning your degree with a focus in Human Resources, you have come just to the right place to learn about the generalist job title.

There are a variety of different team members that work together to ensure that the Human Resources Department is efficient, and each member plays a vital role in operations that are vital to the organization. If you are trying to decide which title you would like to attain after you graduate, read on to learn about the HR generalist position.

What Tasks Will a HR Generalist Perform on a Routine Basis?

A generalist is a mid-level professional who oversees the day-to-day operations of the HR department. As the name would imply, a professional with this title is a general expert on several different tasks performed in the department. While a generalist and an HR manager are two different titles, some of the tasks a generalist performs can overlaps with the tasks a manager performs. Duties that are defined as part of overseeing daily operations in HR are:

* Administering HR plans for all employees
* Development and implementation of personnel procedures and policies
* Developing goals and objectives in various departments
* Administering the company’s compensation programs
* Is involved in claims resolution and other types of benefits administration
* Conforms to EEO regulations with reports and records
* Conducts exit interviewing and counseling when necessary
* Write job listings and conducts recruiting interviews
* Assistance in writing evaluations and making decisions to meet departmental goals
* Maintains records by entering confidential information

How to Become a Human Resources Generalist

As you can see, as a human resource generalist, you will be responsible for a variety of different tasks. If you work for a larger organization, you may work with a team of managers and generalists and only perform some of these tasks. If you are still interested in becoming an HR generalist after graduating school, you need to meet the qualifications to be considered for any open position.

There are several different paths that you can take, and one of these paths is to earn your Bachelor’s degree and then gain 3 to 5 years of departmental experience. You can also move on to earning your Master’s in HR, which will reduce the experience requirement to 2 years. If you do not have any college background, you will need to have about 7 years of HR experience before you apply for a position in any competitive climate. If you do decide to go the route that requires schooling, be sure to choose an accredited program so that you know your degree will be recognized.

If you are looking for a position where your day-to-day professional life will not be mundane, becoming a generalist could be the right goal. Earn your degree, start as an entry-level Human Resources associate, work your way through the ranks, and get promoted into the generalist position. With the right level of formal schooling and the right amount of experience, you can start a high-paying position where you will become the face of employee interactions that concern HR. Compare Human Resources Generalist positions open in your area and get a feel for salary ranges and inventory.